Ribbon-vibrator



0. A. HOKANSON.

'RIBBON VIBRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11, I918. RENEWED MAY 14, i9l9.

1,385,374, Patented July 26, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

' WITNESS J M INVENTOR.

/ y E W m.

' ATTORNEYO.

0. A. HOKANSON.

RIBBON VIBRATOR.

APPLICATION mu) mun, 191a. RENEWED MAY 14. 1919.

1,385,374. Patented July 26, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WITNESS AT 0121mm:

O. A. HOKANSON-.

RIBBON VIBRATOR.

APPLICATlON FILED MAY 11. I918- RENEWED MAY 14. 1919.

1,385,374. Patented July 26, 1921.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- WITNESS. m M INVENTOR. 9 v B W A TTORNE YJ OTTO A. EOKAHBON, OF WOODSTOCK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR '10 BATENT OFFICE.

WOODSTOCK TYPE- wmrm comrm, or woons'rocx, rumors, A CORPORATION or ILLINOIS,

amBoN vIBnA'roa.

specification of mm: Patent.

Patented July 26, 1921.

Application flied lay 11, 1918, Serial No. 233,834. Renewed May 14, 1919. Serial No. 297,154.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Orro A. HonaNsoN, a citizen of the United States, resid ng at Woodstock, in the county of McHenry and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in R1bbou -V1- brators, of which the following is a speclfication. I

This invention relates to typewriters, and more particularly to the mechanism for oscillating the ribbon of a typewnter, and for providing new and improved means by which the throw of the ribbon may var1ed without changing the normal position of rest to which the ribbon is always returned. The principal object of the invention 1s, therefore, to provide a mechanism for varying the throw of the vibrator. Another object of the invention is to provide means for varying and setting the ribbon vibrator mechanism for its varied o eratlon. Other objects will appear hereina ter.

The invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of the parts. g

In the accompanying draw1ngs-- Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly n section of the ribbon vibrating mechanlsrn of a typewriter and constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

Fig. 1 is a front view of the setting means,

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of same, some of the parts being broken away and shown 1n section. V

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 show various posltions of the vibrating parts for utilizing different portions of the ribbon; Fig. 3 shows the parts in normal position; Fig. 4 operated for writing on the black or upper portion of the ribbon Fig. 5 operated or writ ng upon thered or lowerportion of the ribbon; and Fi 6 shows the position of the parts for ma ing stencils; and

Fig. 7 is a modification. 1

It is a common practice to use a two-color ribbon with typewriters, with a black or normally used color. on the upper portion of the ribbon, and with a red or occasionally used color on the lower portion of the ribbon as held in the ribbon carrier. It isobvious that in order to use one ortion o the other in the shifting platen type of typewriter that it is necessary to provide means for varying the throw of the ribbon vibrating means in order to bringany portion of the ribbon opposite the printing point for writing upon the desired portion of the ribbon, either in upper case or lower case position of the printing types. It is also desirable to provide means for varying the throw of the ribbon to utilize different longitudinal portions of the ribbon whether the ribbon is of the same color throughout, or has two or more different colors, as above explained. It is also desirable that the ribbon shall have the same normal position of rest so that the action will be uniform, and so that the printing line will always be visible when the ribbon is withdrawn therefrom. With some styles of ribbon vibrators the printing line is visible when writing upon the upper portion of the ribbon, but when Writing upon the lower portion of the ribbon, the upper portion partially or wholly covers the printing line in its normal position of rest. The present invention is,therefore, of the variable throw type, and although this is a type well known in the art, the present invention embodies a new construction, combination and arrangement of parts by which the desired results are obtained, and the overcome in an entirely new, although a very simple and efficient manner.

In a typewriter frame comprising a base 1 and a top plate 2 are mounted a number of typewriter parts of well-known construction and arrangement; a platen 3 is oscillated up and down by means of a roller 4, which engagesa shift rail 5, carried by a frame which includes a bracket 6, and oscillated about a pivot 7. In the base 1 a number of key lovers 8 are pivoted, which upon depression engage the universal bar 9, to which an operatin link 10 is connected. Pivoted in the shit rail frame 6 is a ribbon vibrator lever 11, to theouter end of whichis pivoted a ribbon carrier 12, which holds a ribbon 13 at its upperend, adjacent theplaten 3. The principal feature of the present invention is the connection be tween the operating link 10 and the ribbon,

aboveqnentioned objectionsvibrator 11, together with the means for setting and adjusting this connection to produce the different throws of the vibrator lever, and consequently of the ribbon 13 itself.

Mounted below the shift rail frame in a bracket 14 is a shaft 15,:at one end of which is secured an arm 16, to which is connected.

a link 17 extending toward the front of the machine. The other end of this shaft is supported by means of an extension 18 of a bracket 19 which is secured to the top plate 2, and to this end of the shaft is attached an arm 20, to the outer end of which a link 21 is pivoted by means of a pivot 22. This link extends substantially parallel with the arm 20, and at its other end carries a bearing pin 23 which may be in a position co-axial with the shaft 15, but is rotatable about the pivot 22 as a center. Pivotally mounted upon a stud 24C in the bracket 19 is an oscillating member 25 which has a slot 26 curved upon a radius equal to the length of the radius upon which the bearing pin 23 is rotated; in other words, upon a radiusequal to the distance between the centers of this bearing pin 23 and the pivot 22 of the arm 21. The upper end of this oscillating member 25 is connected by means of a link 27 with the ribbon vibrating lever 11. In order to communicate movement to the oscillating member the upper end of the operating link 10'is formed with a perforation which the bearing pin 23 fits closely, and this bearing pin extends through the slot 26 so that the downward movement of the link causes the bearing pin to be moved in the curved slot which it therefore fits more closely in a transverse direction, but not too closely to prevent its movement longitudinally of the slot. In practice this hearing pin 23 would be in the form of a roller which would decrease friction and would produce no different operatioin'tliat is, the bearing pin 23 extends closely, but rotatably through the upper end of the link 10 and is movable longitudinally of the slot 26 for producing an oscillating movement of the member 25 when the link 10 is operated. but the pin itself is swung above the axis of'the pivot 22 by means of the arm 21 about an axis different than that of the axis of the member 25. The position of thepivot 22 of the arm 21 determines the engagement of the bearing pin 23 with the slot 26, and

therefore determines the amount of throw that will be given to the oscillating member 25 by the movement of the operating link 10,'which is constant, and the position of the pivot 22 is, of course, varied by the rotation of the shaft 15. I

The movement of the link 10 is constant foreach of the type bars 8, and it islimited by means of an abutment 28, which engages a set screw '29, and this movement may be adjusted and set by varying the screw 29 and holding it in position by means of a lock nut 30. The normal position of rest of the ribbon vibrator lever 11, and consequently of the ribbon itself, is insured because of an abutment 31 on the rear side of the oscilbrator lever 11. Furthermore, it will be observed'that the connection between these parts is entirely independent and separate from the shift rail frame 6.

The forward end of the link 17 is connected to a segment 35 which has teeth 36 engaged by a spring detent 37 for holding the link in different positions for varying the throw of the ribbon vibrator, and also a tooth 38 which is engaged by the detent for holding the parts in such position that there is no oscillation of the operating member 25, and therefore no movement of the ribbon 13, for writing stencils. This seg ment has a forwardly extending operating arm 39 provided with a knob 40, and the segment is pivoted in a bracket 41 attached to the top plate 2 having an abutment 4-2 which limits the downward movement of the segment 35 and having a front curved extension .43 with a slot at through which the arm 39 extends. Pivoted in this bracket 4-1 on an axis transverse to that of the segment 35 is a locking member 45 having a finger-engaging portion 16 at the side of the bracket and at the inside edge of the curved portion 43 thereof, and also having a locking portion 47 which is normally held across the slot 4:4. by means of a spring 18. The function of this locking member is to prevent the segment 35 from being moved so that the tooth 38 will. be engaged by the spring-pressed detent 37. thereby causing the machine to write stencils, unless the locking member 45 is positively operated by engaging the finger hold portion 46 thereof and moving the locking member against the pressure of its spring 18 which will uncover the upper portion of the slot 44; and allow the arm 39 to be raised above the position where it would be engaged by the locking portion 47. This insures that the typewriter will not be operated for stenciling unless it is specifically desired to do so.

.In order that the operation of the variable throw connection will be more readily understood, the several positiOns of the parts are shown in Figs. 3 to 6; in Fig. 3 the parts areshown in their normal position of rcst the letters RB and S indicating generally the line or direction assumed. by the link. 21,

lLZO

when the mechanism is set for writing red, black, or stencilin respectively. In the position shown by ig. 3 the parts are set for writing on the black portion of the ribbon, and in Fig. 4 the operated position of the parts for this setting is shown, from which it will be observed that the upper portion of the oscillating member is inclined only slightly from its normal or upright position, as shown in Fig. 3. In this position the arm 21 oscillates about an axis which differs slightly from the axis about which the slot 26 is curved, and therefore the downward movement of the link 10 produces only a slight cam action in the slot 26. In the operating member 25 for writing upon the red portion of the ribbon, the axis or pivot 22 of the arm 21 is movedto some position, as shown by Fi 5, which is more remote from the axis 0 the curved portion of the slot 26, and so that the arc of movement of the bearing pin 23 most nearly coincides with the downward movement of the link 10,

and in this position the greatest cam action is given to the oscillating member 25, thereby causing the greatest throw of the ribbon. In the stenciling position, as shown by Fig. 6, the pivot of the arm 21 is moved to a position where it coincides with the axis about which the slot 26 is curved, so that when the operating link 10 is moved downwardly, the arm 21 rotates about its pivot 22, causing the bearing pin 23 to be oscillated idly in the slot 26 and causing the upper end of the link 10 to be correspondingly oscillated in the slot 26, but producing no movement whatever of the oscillating member 25. Thus, although the key levers 8 of the typewriter are operated as usual, producing the movement of the link 10, there is no movement of the ribbon vibrator, or of the ribbon itself.

In the modification shown by Fig. 7, an operating member 49 takes the place of the operating link 10, and this member 49 is mounted upon a pivot 50 and has a slot 51 which is actuated by a pin 52 which is reciprocated in a horlzontal direction by the universal bar upon each actuation of a type bar of the typewriter in a well-known manner. .An oscillating member 53 corresponds with theoscillating member 25 and has ,a slot 54 into which a pin 55 carried by the operating member 49 projects. At the end of a shaft 56, which corresponds with the shaft '15, is a plate 57 in which there is a curved slot 58 which varies in distance from the shaft 56. Engaging in the slot 58 is a pin 59, carried by a link 60, which is pivoted on a pin 61 carried by the oscillating member 53, and an arm 62 is connected to this link by means of a pivot 63 at one end of the arnn The other end of the arm is formed. with a hook-shaped portion 64 what engages a pin 55 on the under side thereof, and the pin 61 carried by the oscillating member 53 extends through the arm forming a pivot upon which the arm is rotated. The letters R, B and S indicate the different positions to which this arm 62 may be adjusted by the rotation of the plate 57 moving the hook-shaped end 64 of the arm in different positions below the pin 55, so that in the position indicated by the line B the oscillation of the member 49 will immediately engage the hookshaped extremity (54: and through the engagement of the pivot pin 61 will cause the maximum oscillation of the member 53. hen the arm 62 is moved to the line indicated by B, there will be a space between the pin 55 and the hooked extremity 64 which must be take up before the pin will engage the hooked extremity 64. and cause the oscillation of the member 53. In other words, while the movement of the operating member 49 is constant, there is a lost motion connection between it and the operating member 53, and the lost motion must be taken up before the oscillating mem her is operated, thus causing a correspondingly less movement of the member53 and the ribbon vibrator to which it is connected. In a similar manner the movement of the arm 62 to a position. indicated by the line S will prevent any movement of the oscillating member because the movement of the pin 55 to the end of the slot 54 embraces the total movement of the operating member 49, and therefore no movement is communirated to the oscillating member 53, although the movement of the member 49 is the same as usual, and. this will produce the well known stenciling operation of the typewriter.

1. In a typewriter, a ribbon vibrator shiftable for upper and lower case writing, an actuating member therefor always returnable to the same normal position, an operating link having a constant extent of oscillation, and. a connection between the link and member comprising one of a pair of connecting arms the other of which may be set at different angular positions with respect to the first arm without moving either of the parts to which the first arm is connected to produce a variable movement of the member with the same movement of the link.

2. The combination with ribbon vibrator shiftable for upper and lower case writing, of an actuating membertherefor always returnable to the same normal position, an operating link, and a pin curved slot connection between the link and the member, and means including an arm pivoted to said pin which may be set without varying the position of either the member or link to produce different extents of movements of the actuating member for the some movement of the operating link.

3). The combination with a ribbon vibrator shiftable for upper and'lower case writing, of an actuating member therefor always returnable to the same normal position, an operating link, a connection be tween the link and the member comprising a curved slot in oneof them and a pin connected to the other one and extending into the slot, and an arm for guiding the pin which is movable to different angular positions with respect to the axis of the pin to eifect different movements of the member for the same movement of the operating link. 7

4%. In a ribbon vibrator, an oscillatable member always returnable to the same normal position, an operating link'therefor, a connection between the link and the mcmber comprising one of a pair of arms which extend parallel with each other and are connected together at one end, means connected to the other end of one of the arms for rotating them both about this end as the center, and means connected to the other end of the other arm for joining the link and member, the angular position of the arms determining the extent of movement of the member for a constant movement of the link.

5. Ina ribbon vibrator, an oscillatable acvtuating member having a curved slot therein, an operating link, a connection between the member and link comprising a bearing member extending through the link and into the slot of the actuating member, and an arm attached at one end of the bearing member and having its other end movable from a point coinciding with the axis of curvature of said slot to different distances therefrom to vary the throw imparted to the actuating member by a constant movement of the operating link. V i

6. In a ribbon vibrator, the combination with an oscillatable actuating member having a curved slot, of an operating link therefor, a connection between the member and link comprising a rotatable member extending through the link and into the slot of the actuating member, an arm attached at one end of the rotatable member, and means for swinging the other end of the arm aboutthe arm itself as a radius for varying the fixed position of the said other end of, this arm whereby a variable extent of oscillationis imparted to the actuating member for the same movement of the operating link. 7

7. In a ribbon vibrator, an actuating member having a curved slot, an operating link therefor, a bearing pin extending through the link and intothe slot, an arm attached to one end of the pin and rotatable about it, another arm attached to the firstmentioned armrat the end opposite the pin, and means for rotating the last-mentioned arm to vary the extent of movement imparted to the actuating member for the same movement of the operating link.

8. In a ribbon vibrator, an actuating member returnable to the same normal position and having a curved slot therein, an operating link therefor, a connection between the link and the member comprising a bearing pin extending through the link and into the slot, an arm connected at one end to the bearing pin, shaft whose axis coincides with that of the pin in its normal position, a second arm connected at one end to the shaft and at the other end to the end of the first-mentioned arm remote from the bearing pin, and means to rotate the shaft to vary the position of the free end of the first-mentioned arm.

9. In a typewriter, aribbon vibrator, an oscillatable shift frame upon which the vibrator is pivoted, a fixed bracket, an actuating member pivoted in the bracket and returnable to the same normal position, an opcrating link, a universal bar to which the link is attached, key levers for moving the link a fixed amount upon each actuation thereof, a pin and slot connection between. the link and the member, guiding means for the pin to control its movement in the slot for varying or nullifying the movement of the actuating member for a constant, move ment of the link, and a device for setting the guiding means to cause the desired movement or no n'iovement of the actuating member for each movement of the operating link independent of the position of the shift frame.

10. In a ribbon vibrator, the combination with an actuating member, of an operating link therefor, a pin and curved slot connection between the link and the member, means including a pivoted arm for guiding the pin in the slot to effect various movements of the member for a constant movement of the link, and a device for setting the guiding means to effect the desired movement of the actuating member.

11. In a ribbon vibrator, an actuating member always returnable to the same normal position, an operating link therefor. a pin and slot connection between the member and link, means for guiding the movement of the pin in the slot to effect a, varied inovcment or no movement at all of the actuating member for a constant movement of the op crating link, a device for setting the guiding means to effect various movements of the actuating member, and a lock in connection with said device to prevent the device from being set so that the guide will allow the pin to move idly in the slot.

12. In a ribbon vibrator, an actuating memher, an operating link, a pin and slot connection bet. con the member and link, means for guiding the pin. in the slot to cause it to move idly or to effect difi'erent movements of the member for same movement of the link, a setting device for said means comprising a rotatable member, means for holding the member in difi'erent rotated positions, and a lock normally engaged by the rotatable member to prevent the movement of the guiding means to a position where the pin rotates idly in the slot, the lock being rotatable to a position to permit the movement of the rotatable member for setting the guide so that the pin will rotate idly in the slot.

13. In a ribbon vibrator, an actuating member, an operating link, a pin and slot connection between the member and link, means for guiding the pin in the slot to produce a varied movement or no movement of the member for a constant movement of the link, a setting device for said means comprising a slotted bracket, a segment pivoted in the bracket having an arm extending through the slot, means for holding the segment in various adjusted positions, and a spring-pressed lock extending across the slot to limit the movement of the arm in one direction and movable to allow further movement of the arm in this same direction, the further movement of the arm causing the guiding means to be placed in the position such that the movement of the link will cause an idle movement of the pin in the slot.

14. In a ribbon vibrator, the combination with an actuating member, of an operating link, a connection between the member and link for imparting various movements to the member for the same movement of the link, a device for setting said means to control the operation of the member, the device comprising a rotatable segment, a bracket in which the segment is rotated having a slot through which a portion of the segment projects for rotatin it, a spring and toothed connection for hol ing the segment in any adjusted position the bracket being provided with a projection for limiting the movement of the segment in one direction, and a spring pressed member pivoted in the bracket having a portion extending across the slot for limiting the movement of the segment in the other direction, this member being rotatable to permit a further movement of the segment in the same direction.

15. In a ribbon vibrator, an actuating member always returnable to the same normal position, a bracket in which it is rotatable having an adjustable stop to engage the member in its normal position, an operating link, a connection between the memher and the link, and a separately adjustable stop also mounted in the said bracket for engaging and limiting the operating movement of the said link.

16. The combination with a ribbon vibrator lever, of an operating lever therefor having a fixed position to which it always returns, means for varying the throw of the operating lever comprising a link having a fixed movement at one end and a variable movement at the other end, and means for varying the movement of one end of the link.

17. In ribbon vibrator mechanism, a pivoted vibrator lever, an operating lever therefor connected thereto, means for imparting a variable movement to the operating lever, said means comprising a link having a loose connection with the operating lever at one end and having a fixed connection to swing in a constant are at the other end, and means for varying the pivotal movement of the end of the link which is in connection with the operating lever so that it swings about different axes to vary the throw of the oper ating lever.

18. In a ribbon vibrator, a vibrator lever, an operating lever therefor and means for varying the throw imparted to the operaing lever, said means comprising a link having a pin and slot connection at one end with the operating lever, means for swing ing the other end of the link in a fixed arc, and means for varying the are of movement of that end of the link which is in connection with the operating lever.

19. In a ribbon vibrator, a lever, an operating lever therefor having a curved slot, a link loosely pivoted at one end in the slot, means for moving the other end of the link in a fixed arc, and an arm pivoted to the end of the link which is connected to the o erating lever and swinging about a variable axis at the other end of the arm to vary the arcuate length of movement of this end of the link.

20. In ribbon vibrator mechanism, a pivoted actuating member having a constant movement, a variable throw operating lever and a vibrator lever connected thereto, a link pivoted at one end to the actuating member, a pin and arcuate slot connection of the operating lever and the other end of the link, and a setting mechanism to cause a variable movement of the pin in the slot to vary the throw of the operating lever.

21. In a ribbon vibrator, an actuating member having an arcuate movement, a link pivoted at one end thereto, an arm pivoted at one end to the other end of the link, means to set the arm at different angular positions with respect to the link, and an operating lever having a curved slot with a radius equal to the length of the arm, and the link having a member operating in the slot to move idly or cause a variable movement of the lever depending upon whether the axis of the other end of the arm coincides with or is remote from the axis of the curved slot.

22. In a ribbon vibrator, a pivoted actuat ing member having a constant arcuate movement, a link pivoted at one end thereto, an

operating lever having a curved slot engaged by the other end of the link, an arm pivoted at one end to the said other end of the link, a rotatable shaft coaxial with the pivotal connection of the arm and said link when the parts are in normal position, and an arm attached to the shaft and pivoted at its outer end to the other end of the firstmentioned arm.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 10 name to this specification on this 7th day of May, A. D. 1918.

OTTO A. HOKANSON. 

